Robert Eesley, 83

Monday

Jun 30, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Robert J. Eesley, 83, of Hendersonville passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Pardee Care Center following a brief illness.

Robert J. Eesley, 83, of Hendersonville passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at Pardee Care Center following a brief illness.He was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., the son of the late Harold J. and Rena Smith Eesley. Following graduation from Plainwell High School and Eureka College, he enlisted as a Naval Aviation Cadet and served as a Navy pilot during World War II and the Korean War. Following his service, he ran a residential construction business until his retirement in 1988.He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Hendersonville.In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Ann Ramey Eesley, who died in 1984, and by a sister, Kathryn Krahn.He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Gritter Eesley; a daughter, Rena Szewczuga and her husband, Del, of Milwaukee, Wis.; a son, Michael Eesley and his wife, Denise, of Woodstock, Ill.; two grandchildren, Rachel Sebastian and her husband, Steve, of Crystal Lake, Ill., and Matthew Eesley of Chicago, Ill.; and two sisters, Joyce Bock and her husband, Paul, of Denver, Colo., and Dorothy Koster and her husband, Edward, of Melbourne, Fla.A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hillside Cemetery in Plainwell.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Four Seasons Hospice, 571 S. Allen Rd. Flat Rock, NC 28731 or to the National Naval Aviation Mueseum, 1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. 32508 or online at www.navalaviationmueseum.org.An online guest book is available for family and friends at www.thosshepherd.com.

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